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W. P. RICHARDSON.

SAFETY CLOSURE MEANS.

APPLICATION FILED um. 26. 1916.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Fl 5.1 I 146 FIGA;

INVENTOR 6U: also-1M LOW/gall wi w WITNESSES Tm: COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH "UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILBUR P. RICHARDSON, OF BEAVER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO EDWIN S. CLARKSON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SAFETY-CLOSURE MEANS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 8, 1919.

Application filed. January 26, 1916. Serial No. 74,415.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, VVILBUR P. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety-Closure Means, of which the follow ing is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in tank closures, and particularly to structures of this type in which the tank pressures are prevented from producing damaging conditions.

The invention is designed more particularly to meet conditions incident to the transportation of oil, etc, although it is applicable for use otherwise whether tank pressures are present or not. It is especially adapted, however, to meet conditions which may be present in transporting oil. in tank cars. In the transportation of oil, trans porting and climatic conditions tend to provide volatilizing and other action thereby tending to produce a pressure in the tank; while such pressures within reasonable limits are ineffective to provide damage during transportation, excess pressure may pro vide such action; such pressures, however, may lead to damage when the tank is opened.

Under these conditions, should the closure be so formed. as to be effective only within certain pressure limits, increase of pressure beyond the limits would provide a condition where a blow-out action of the closing structure might take place. Should the closing structure be of a type to prevent such action when closed, the movements of the structure to open it greatly reduces this factor of safety, so that when the resistance provided by the securing means is insuilicient to withstand the pressures within the tank, the closure structure becomes subject to the same possibility of being blown out. In either case, the blow-out action permits the full effect of the pressure to be had through the opening which was closed by the closure structure, thereby providing a source of danger, especially where the vapors or fumes from the tank may come into contact with a flame, the latter reaching the interior of the tank through the well known action in such cases.

The present invention is designed to prevent such in by preventing opening movements of the closure structure other than in a predetermined manner, and providing additionally for pressure relief action during such movements, the result being that movements of the structure in a direction to weaken the resistance automatically causes a reduction in'the pressure within the tank; hence, the resistance remains in excess of the pressure until the pressure has been reduced, thereby preventing the blow-out action and at the same time reducing the pressures to such an extent that conditions leading to flame movements into the tank are practically eliminated when the closure structure is actually removed. In addition, means are provided for preventing the passage of any flame which might be ignited from the relief out-flow from pass ing into the tank during the relief operation. As a result, the closure structure not only efliciently performs its duties under transportation conditions, but is also fool proof in manipulation.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of a tank car showing one form of my invention, applied thereto.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a modified arrangement of the structure of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another way in which the invention may be applied to produce the desired results.

Fig. l is a detail elevational view of parts shown in Fig. 3; Tank cars for the transportation of oil are generally provided with a dome-like structure and it is to this part'of the car that my invention is applied when employed in connection with such use. In applying the invention, the usual construction is de-- parted from to some extent, depending upon the particular form of my invention which. may be employed;

In the drawing, 10 indicates a portion of the walls of the body portion of the tank, 11 indicating the opening usually provided leading to the dome. In each of the forms, the arrangement provides for the vertically extending cylindrical portion of the dome, the dome efiect being completed by the use of a removable closure element which is in effect threaded to this vertically extending wall.

In the form shown in Fig. 1, the verti cally extending wall indicated at 1 is shown as having two different diameters, the portion of smaller diameter being at the lower portion of the wall, the latter having a shoulder 12 leading to the portion of larger diameter, said latter portion, indicated at 12", being internally threaded. This arrangement permits of the use of the shoulder 12 as an annular seat for the closure element, said shoulder being preferably provided with a suitable packing element 13 preferably compressible in order to practically insure a leakage proof joint when the closure element is threaded to its inner position.

At a point in proximity to the plane of shoulder 12, the wall is provided with one or more openings 1%, preferably elongated in the directionof circumferential length of the wall, each opening being preferably pro vided with a wire mesh or other gauze-like structure 15 suitably secured to the wall in such manner as to completely cover said opening either externally or internally, but being preferably located at a point between the inner and outer faces of the wall and thus intersecting the opening, this latter form being preferred in order that the screen thus produced may have the protection afforded by being out of the plane of either the inner or outer faces of the wall. Where more than one opening 1 1 is em ployed, the openings are preferably spaced apart circumferentially and preferably located on a cross sectional plane of the wall. The screen structure, as will be readily understood, will operate similar to the protecting screen of a miners lamp, acting to prevent the passage of flame from one side to the other of the screen.

The closure element is indicated at 16, being provided with a cylindrical wall 16 ex ternally threaded and adapted to cooperate with the threaded portion 12 of wall 12, the closure element having its diaphragm of any desired configuration, a preferred form being dome-shaped, thus permitting of the use of strengthening webs 16". Any suitable means may be provided to enable ready manipulation of the closure element, a preferred form being that shown in the draw ings, in which a plurality of projecting lugs 16 are provided at the top of wall 16 the arrangement being such that rotation of the element can be readily had by employing any suitable lever arrangement which extends across .the top of the closure element, the lugs 16 providing the necessary abutments required in applying the rotating pressure.

As will be seen, the closure element has a shoulder 16 adapted to cooperate with shoulder 12 or with its packing member 13 in providing the leakage proof closure, it being readily understood that if the closure element be threaded inwardly, such closure action will be had, outward threading breaking the closure and permitting the escape of contents of the tank between the opposing shoulder 12 and 16, the contents passing outwardly through opening 1%, the inner face of the latter, if desired, being cut away as at M to insure that such action will be had.

As will be readily understood, the threaded connection between the closure element and wall is of sufficient length to require a somewhat extended period of time to complete the removal of the closure element, and since openings 14 are brought into action immediately after the element leaves its seat, it will be readily understood that before it can reach a position where its threads would afford insufficient resistance to withstand the initial pressure within the tank, such initial pressure will be reduced by discharge of tank contents through openings 1%, thus reducing the pressure within the tank to a point where it will be ineffective to provide such blow-out action.

\Vhile not absolutely essential, I prefer to employ the downwardly projecting flange 16 this flange projecting below the plane of the seat 13, but being spaced a fixed distance from the inner face of wall 12. This results in forming an annular passageway of restricted width leading to the surfaces forming the closure, and since the packing 13 is spaced from the inner face of wall 12, this restricted space will be extended outwardly. As will be readily understood, this forms a. somewhat tortuous path for the contents to reach the contacting faces forming the closure and thus tends to reduce any tendency of the pressure within the tank forcing a passage between shoulder 16 and member 13. In addition, another advantage is obtained in that during the earlier threading movements of the closure element to move it from its seat, the passageway for the contents remains of equal cross sectional area, although the distance between shoulder 16 and member 13 is increasing. As a result, the discharge of contents will be at a uniform rate during the time required to thread the element to a point where the lower edge of flange 16 reaches the plane of shoulder 12, after which, further threading acts to increase the cross sectional area of the passageway. In this manner, reduction from the initial high pressure is made gradually and not suddenly, thereby reducing any tendency of a churning action of the contents.

Fig. 2 differs from Fig. 1 in that the wall 12 is made a separate member from the tank walls, being in the form of an annular member 12 which is threaded to the tank wall, this member being preferably arranged to prevent threading action after having been placed in position, Fig. 2 indicating rivets 12 for this purpose. The operation of this structure would, of course, be similar to that of the structure of Fig. 1.

In Figs. 3 and 4, I have illustrated a modification of the invention. In this form I employ an additional member 17 which carries the threads corresponding to threads 12 of Figs. 1 and 2, wall 12, in this form, carrying a plurality of upwardly projecting lugs 18 formed as hooks, a preferred arrangement being indicated in Fig. 4, these hooks being adapted to receive arms 17- carried by member 17. As will be readily understood, member 17 is rotatable only when arms 17 are below the plane of the point of hooks 18, these hooks retaining said member against rotational movement when arms 17 are located behind the points of such hooks. Consequently, threading of the closure element in one direction will cause member 17 to be moved outwardly until restrained by hooks 18, the element being properly seated when this action occurs. If the closure element be rotated in the opposite direction, member 17 would tend to travel in a direction to pass toward a point where it could be rotated as long as pressure within the tank is less than the combined weight of the element and member 17, it being understood that during such period, the element would rest upon packing 13, simply rotating on such packing, the threading action being directly upon member 17. When, however, the pressure within the tank is greater than the weight of the element and member 17, this pressure becomes effective to retain arms 17 within the hooks 18, so that the threading action is then transferred to the closure element itself, moving shoulder 16 away from the packing 13 and thus opening the passageway leading to openings 1%. As will be understood, should the pressure within the tank be so great as to maintain this excess condition despite the relief provided by such movement of the closure element, the threading action will bring the annular shoulder 16 into contact with member 17, thereby preventing further threading action. When in such position, the closure is not removable under normal operating conditions until the pressure within the tank has been relieved to an extent where it is less than the combined weight of the element and member 17, at which time the prepoiulerance of weight would cause the element and member 17 to travel downwardly until arms 17- are released from engagement with hooks 18, whereupon, the member 17 may be rotated to carry the arms out of the hooks and enabling the element to be removed bodily. If desired, the hooks may have an external configuration such as would aid in raising the closure element, it being understood that an element for this particular purpose is of considerable diameter.

The operation of the structures of Figs. 3 and 4, therefore, differs somewhat from the operation of the structures of Figs. 1 and 2 in that the parts in Figs. 3 and 1: are positively locked against removal until the pressure has been relieved to such an extent that the closure element will practically seat itself by reason of its weight, at which time the pressure within the tank has been reduced to an extent where it is practically incapable of producing damage. On the con trary, in operating the structures of Figs. 1 and 2, dependence must be placed to a considerable extent on the relief action itself so reducing the pressure that as the closure element approaches the end of its outward threading movement, the pressure within the tank will have been sufficiently relieved to prevent a blow-out action. In either case, the pressure relief action begins when the closure element begins its out\\-'arcl threading operation, and the element can be removed only after the pressure relief ports have been opened for a considerable length of time.

Inasmuch as the screens 15 will act to prevent the entrance of flame into the tank,

it will be readily understood that should the vapors or flames which are discharged through openings 14- accidentally become ignited, such ignition would not extend into the tank to provide an explosion therein, the flame action being confined entirely to that portion of the vapors or fumes which have passed beyond the screens, so that should such accidental ignition be had, forcing the operator away from the valve, such flame would gradually die out as the pressure with in the tank decreased until equilibrium with atmospheric pressure is had, whereupon, substantially no vapors or fumes capable of ignition would escape.

As heretofore pointed out, the structures 1 above disclosed are preferred. It will be understood, however, that the several structures shown may be varied in details along lines of obvious equivalent structures to meet individual conditions while retaining the general purposes of the invention. Since the structures shown, however, have been found especially desirable for the particular purposes referred to, I. prefer to employ them, especially a structure of the types of 3 and 4, since this structure prevents removal of the closure element under normal operations of the parts, until the pressure within the tank has reached a point where its effects will be innocuous; while earlier release of the valve could be had by the application of additional weight on the closure element and member 17 after the element has been threaded outwardly a sutlicient distance, this action could only be an intentional, deliberate and reckless action by the operator not necessary for successful op eration.

While I have herein shown and described several ways in which my invention may be carried out, it will be readily understood that changes and modifications therein may be required or desired to meet the exigencies of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found necessary or desirable, in so far as the same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a tank car having a dome-like structure, said structure including a closure member movable axially relative to a seat to open and close a passageway, the movements of the member to open the passageway in the presence of pressure within the tank being limited to rotatable movements of the member, said structure having one or more openings protected against the passage of flame and forming passageways for tank content-s when the closure member is moved from its seat.

2. In combination, a tank car having a dome-like structure, said structure including a closure member movable axially relative to a seat to open and close a passageway, the movements of the member to open the passageway in the presence of pressure within the tank being limited to rotatable movements of the member, said structure having one or more openings protected against the passage of flame and forming passageways for tank contents when the closure member is moved from its seat, the axial movements of the valve being controlled to retain a preponderance of closure resistance over tank pressure during such movements.

3. In combinationya tank car having a dome-like structure, said structure including a closure member movable axially relative to a seat, said structure having one or more openings protected against the passage of flame and forming passageways for tank contents when the closure member is moved from its seat, said closure movements including a threading action by the closure member.

4:. In combination, a tank car having a dome-like structure, said structure including a closure member movable axially relative to a seat, said structure having one or more openings protected against the passage or flame and forming passageways for tank contents when the closure member is mover from its seat, said closure movements including a threading action by the closure member controlled to retain a preponeerance of closure resistance over tank pressure during the closure movements.

In combination, a receptacle having a port and having an annular seat, a closure member movable axially relative to said seat to open and close the port, port-opening movements, in the presence of tank pressure, being limited to rotatable movements of the member, said closure being removable bodily from the port, and means whereby movements of the member from its seat will open a passageway for the receptacle contents to the exterior of the receptacle prior to the completion of the member movements in reaching its removal position, said means including one or more openings protected against the passage of flame therethrough.

6. In combination, a receptacle having a port and having an annular seat, a closure member movable axially relative to said seat to open and close the port, port-opening movements, in the presence of tank pressure, being limited to rotatable movements of the member, said closure being removable bodily from the port, and means whereby movements of the member from its seat will open a passageway for the receptacle contents to the exterior of the receptacle prior to the completion of the member movements in reaching its removal position, said means including one or more openings protected against the passage of flame there-through,

the movements of the closure being centrolled to prevent the member reaching its removal position without permitting material reduction in receptacle pressure provided by the activity of said means.

7. In combination, a receptacle having a port and having an annular seat, a closure member movable axially relative to said seat to open and close the port, said closure being removable bodily from the port, and means whereby movements of the ininber from its seat will open a passageway for the receptacle contents to the exterior of the receptacle prior to the completion of the member movements in reaching its removal position, said means including one or more openings protected against the passage of flame therethrough, said axial movements including a threading action by the closure member.

8. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided wit-h one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from Said Seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, said port Wall and the closure member having complemental means to retain the passageway leading to said seat substantially constant in cross-sectional area during a predetermined length of movement of the member from its seat.

9. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, said port wall and the closure member having complemental means in advance of the seat to retain the passageway leading to said seat substantially constant in cross sectionl area during a predetermined length of movement of the member from its seat.

10. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, said port wall and the closure member having complemental means to retain the passageway leading to said seat substantially constant in cross-sectional area during a predetermined lengthof movement of the member from its seat, said means including an annular flange having a face opposing the inner face of the port wall and spaced therefrom.

11. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, and means cooperating with said closure memberto limit the length of opening movements of said member.

12. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, a member forming a support for the closure member, and means whereby said supporting member will control the removal of the closure member.

13. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the

movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, a member forming a support for and adjustable relatively to the closure member, and means whereby said supporting member will control the removal of the closure member.

1st. In combinaton, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, a member forming a support for the closure member, and means whereby said supporting member will prevent removal of the closure member in the presence of a preponderant pressure within the receptacle.

15. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, a member forming a support for and adjustable relatively to the closure member, and means whereby said supporting member will prevent removal of the closure member in the presence of prepondeiant pressure within the receptacle, said means comprising a re straining structure in the path of movement of the supporting member eflective during the pressure preponderance.

16. In combination, a receptacle having a port with the port walls provided with one or more screened openings, said receptacle also having an annular seat, a closure member movable toward and from said seat, the movements of said member acting to render said openings active and inactive, a member forming a support for and adjustable relatively to the closure member, and means whereby said supporting member will prevent removal of the closure member in the presence of preponderant pressure within the receptacle, said means comprising a restraining structure in the path of movement of the supporting member effective during the pressure preponderance, said structure having a configuration to permit bodily removal of said members when the pressure conditions internally and externally of the closure member are in approximate equilibrium.

17. In combination, a receptacle having a port and an annular seat, a removable closure member for the port adapted to cooperate with said seat, and an element having a threaded connection with the closure member and cooperating therewith to limit port opening action in the presence of receptacle pressure to relative threading movements of said element and member.

18. In combination, a receptacle ha-vinga given position by relative threading moveport and an annular seat, a removable cloments of the element and. the member. 10 sure member for the port adapted to cotip- In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature erate with said seat, an element having a in presence of two witnesses.

threaded connection with th closure mem- XVILBUR P. RICHARDSON.

ber and means cooperating with said ele- Witnesses:

ment to retain said closure member seated, S. A. MGFARLAND,

the retaining means being maintained in a HORACE E. SEITZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Batents, Washington, D. C. 

